Washing machine



Oct y 1932 M; A. DEFEBAUGH WASHING MACHINE Original Filed Dec. 22. 19262 Sheets-Shet 1.

och ll, 1932, M. A. DEFIBAUGH 1,882,123

WASHING MACHINE Original Filed Dec. 22, 1926 2 sheets-sheet 2 PatentedOct. 11,1932- UNITED STATES PATENT 'oFriCE 1mm: a. nnrmuen, orscnnnncranv, nnw roan, assienoa 'ro Amen-Ea Janos.

connnv', or EAST moan, rumors, A conrona'non or rumors wasnnm macnmnOriginal application filed December 22, 1926, Serial No. 156,300.Divided and this application fllfl'une 20;

This invention relates 'to a device for drying clothes. I

The invention includes a revolving clothes containing basket and ahousing therefor, 23 including special fashioning of the basket and arelationing of the same to its exterior housing, and also includesdriving means for the basket.

The invention includes novel means for m supporting and maintaining arevoluble basket in relation to a driven member, and adjusting means inconnection therewith for vertical projection and retraction of thebasket with respect to its su port.

The invention inclu es, in conjunction with an upwardly tapered,non-foraminated basket, a fluid chamber for receiving fluid dischargedfrom the basket, deflector baflie means in connection with the fluidchamber m to prevent overflow therefrom into the basket housing member,and outlets from the liquid receiving chamber optionally to an adjacentand related tub member, and to other exterior points with respect to thefluid receiving chamber, and the washing machine tub.

The invention includes a closure member for an opening in the top of thebasket, a

relatively stationary locking barsupport a therefor, including arelatio'ning of closure member and bar, to'fa itate turning of thebasket and lid with respect to the stationary bar, and to effectcentering of the basket in conformity to its driving axis and in arelationship to prevent lateral shift of the upper portion of thebasket.

The invention includes a superposed closure member adapted for selectiveservice in covering of the locking bar, the fluid receiving chamber andthe closed basket during drying activities, and for removal as a cover,whenxthe drying activities have ceased and the basket is opened, forservice as a drip board intervening between the basket and adjacentrinse or bluing tub.

The invention includes means automatically active, upon the raising ofthe closure member to break the driving connection to the basketsupporting and driving shaft, and c0 coincidently to apply brake actionthereto to tration of a tub for rinse or luing water.

1928. Serial No. 288,769. I

quickly terminate basket rotation and re-. versely, upon closure of theclosure member, to release said brake connection on said basketsupporting and driving shaft and to effect driving connection theretofrom the driving means.

The invention includes generally relatively contributing combinations ofparts tothe end of developing certain improved results in connectionwith centrifugal drying apparatus.

Referring to the drawings p Fig. 1 is a side elevation. of the device,partly in section, and partly in duplicate position showing ofcertainparts, and including a diagrammatic showing of associated tub andcertain gear mechanisms;

Fig. 2 isa plan view of the device show-. ing the basket cover andlockingbar and drip board in open or relief association with respect tothe topof the basket housing and fluid receiving chamber, with, partsbroken away angularly with respect to vertical lines through the wallportions of the top covering parts and including dotted line showing 75to disclose certain outlet valve features and showing of related washingtub,'partly in section, and also showing, partially in dotted lines,arrangement of rinse and bluing tub with respect to the washing tub anddrying receptacle;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the top portion of the centrifugal drier,wherein a top cover,-

ing member is shown in different opened positions, and including a dierammatic illus 95 Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1,and showing spline andgroove relationing of a basket member to thedriving shaft and a pin support for the basket; r

Fig. 5 is a detail view showing shifting means controlled by themovement of a cover member to effect selective release or driving actionof a basket support and driving shaft; an

. Fig. 6 is a detail View showing a clutch and brake mechanismco-operatively related to l the shifting meansshown in Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown in Fig. '1 the specialcentrifugal extractor, W)

the present instance is the same being disclosed in connection with awashing machine, and as a matter of fact, it is combined therewith notonly by means of a common driving. connection,'but also in an operativemanner to increase the efliciency of the washing and drying operationand to decrease the time usually consumed inwashing operations.

' Although the present application is directed more specifically to thecentrifugal extractor and connected portions, nevertheless there is alsoincluded connecting portions between the centrifugal extractor andwashing machine tub which make necessary the showing of the washingmachine, which in signated 10.

Although the present machine has been generall referred to as 10, it isactually the tub portion of the washing machine which has been sodesignated. In view of the fact that the mechanism for agitating thewater in the tub 10 has no relation to the present application, the samehas not been disclosed.

There is a common supporting means for the washin machine andcentrifugal extractor, sai supporting means comprising the structuralformation 11 disposed beneath the washing machine tub 10, the extendedframing 12 and the vertical end support 13 disposed adjacent thecentrifugal extractor later to be described. As a matter of fact, thevertical support 13 forms one of the legs of the combined washer andcentrifugal extractor, and the tub portion upon the side,

not shown, carries the two other legs which form-the complete supportingstructure. As may be clearly seen in the drawin s, the framing 12 alsoforms the support or the driving mechanism 'for the centrifugal extractor, as well as for the washing machine, although the drivingmechanism for the washing machine is not shown in detail in thedrawings.

The washing machine tub 10 is related, or rather, connected to thecentrifugal extractor or drier portion b means of a fluid chamber 14,said cham er not only surrounding the upper portionv of the centrifugalextractor in a manner to catch the discharge therefrom, but alsoproviding a supporting connection between the centrifugal extractormechanism, the vertical supporting member 13 and the tub 10. This fluidchamber is fashioned, as may be clearly seen in F ig. .1

of the drawings, as an integral cast piece, the same being bolted, as at15, to the leg portion 13, and upon its opposite side being attached ina plural manner, as shown at 16, to the washing machine tub.

In Fig. 2 of the drawings, this fluid chamber is disclosed in plan, andits connection with the washing machine tub is probably more clearlyshown in that view. In other 'words, it is applicants desire to connectthe centrifugal drier mechanism with the washing machine mechanism in aunitary manner, and he accomplishes this result by the above describedsupporting means.

The fluid chamber 14, by means of an extended portion 17, forms also theupper por-- tion of the washing machine tub 10, which greatly adds tothe unitary structural assemblyof the combined washer and centrifugaldrier.

Valve mechanism for controlling the passage of fluid from the fluidchamber 14 into the tub 10 has been providedand will be later describedin detail in connection with the operation of the centrifugal drier.

It will be" noted that the fluid chamber 14 is not only open at the top,but also is open at the bottom, the inner, upwardly projecting flange18, however, actually forming the fluid receptacle or chamber 14. Thisupwardly projecting flange has a horizontally extended baflle member 19,which, as will be described more in detail later, operates to preventthe passage of fluid from the chamber 14 into the casing 20whichsurrounds the centrifugal extractor or drier 21.

The casing 20, as is clearly shown in Fig. i

1, vis formed of a non-perforated sheet of metal and is tapered toconform exactly with the shape of the centrifugal extractor 21, and isfashioned to completely surround same, there being an opening, however,in the lower end thereof to permit the projection therethrough of thedriving means for the extractor 21. The tapered casing 20 is securelyattached to the fluid chamber and integral connecting member in themanner shown at 22.

As respects the means for rotating the centrifugal extractor 21, the,conventional electric motor 23 is suitably connected, as at 24-, to theframing 11'. Also, the completely enclosed gear casing 25 is shown,which houses the horizontally disposed drive shaft 26, the same beingconnected to the electric motor by means of the flexible coupling 27. Onthe horizontal drive'shaft 26 is a worm 28 which is-adapted to rotate aworm gear, not shown, which in turn, through connected drivingmechanism, reciprocates the water agitating means in the washing machinetub. This mechanism, however, has not been disclosed, as it forms nopart of the present application.

A gear 29 is securely attached to the oper-' ating end of the horizontaldrive shaft, said shaft beingsupported by means of a ball bearing 30within the gear casing 25. An

upwardly projecting portion of the gearing 36. is a crown gear 37 havingthe teeth- 38 thereon meshing with the teeth on the gear 29.

the crown gear 37. Means is provided for effecting engagement andrelease of the' clutch member 39 with the crown gear to control themovement of the drive shaft 36. This.

engagement and release is eflected through a lever 42 attached to ashaft 43, which is pivotally mounted, as at 44, in. the gear caslngcover 31. The shaft 43 projects within the cover 31 and has itsengagement end bifurcated in the manner shown at 45, and also has lugs46 thereon which provide a slidable, although operative, connection withthe cutaway portion 47 of the crown gear 37. A coil spring 48 exertstension on the clutching mechanism.

It will be noted that the clutch, which has i been generally referred toas 39, has also the 2% friction surface 49 adapted in the release clutchposition to engage a similarly shaped friction surface 50 formed on theinterior of the cover portion 31.

The above mechanism provides a means for effecting braking action onthevertical drive shaft 36 when the driving connection with the maindrive shaft 26 has been broken by therelease of the clutch. Ordinarily,we might say that rotation of the drive shaft 36 would cease upon therelease of the clutch, but in the present instance, due to the fact thatthe centrifugal drier is exceedingly heavy, it is found that due to theinertia, the drive shaft will rotate for such time as makes absolutelynecessary the provision of this braking means to stop very quickly therotation thereof.

The upper end of the vertical drive. shaft 36 projects through theopening in the bottom of the centrifugal drier casing 20 and engages araised portion 51 on the lower end of the centrifugal extractor 21. Theupper T end of the drive shaft 36is fashioned as at 52 in such manner asto engage a similarly shaped plate 53, which is securely attached as at54 to the bottom of the centrifugal .extractor 21. I As may be clearlyseen, the driving conmotion between the shaft 36 and centrifugalextractor is effected at the abovedescribed This means for varying theposition of contact between the upper end of the drive shaft and thecentrifugal extractor has the following advantages. It is absolutelyessential to successful operationof a centrifugal extractor that therebe no lost motion between the driving means and the balanced centrifugalextractor, and unless a quickly adjustable connection is used, as hereshown, it would be absolutely necessary in assembling the variousmechanisms, that'the greatest carebe taken in the machining of thevarious elements, so that there would be an absolutely perfect fitbetween the centrifugal driving means and the centrifugal extractor. Itmay be clearly seen that should such care be necessary in assemblies ofthis kind, great expense would be incurred and the present simpleadjustment has been devi'sed'to save this expense, as well as to providean adjustable mechanism at a point which is readily accessible to theoperator.

In other words, should it be found neces-- sary to vary the position ofthe screw 56 to prevent any play between the driving mechanism and thecentrifugal extractor, it is merely necessary to remove the centrifugalextractor and to adjust the screw and lock nut to the proper position,which can obviously be accomplished in a very few moments.

Referring now to the centrifugal extractor 21, the same is balanced inone instance at the bottom, as clearly described, and in order toinsuresubstantially vibrationless rota point or bearing directly abovethe lower contact or balancing point. In the present instance, thecentrifugal extractor 21 is tapered upwardly, as may be clearly seen inFig. 1

of the drawings, and the upper edges of the continuous sheet are flaredoutwardly as at 58 to a point above and beyond that part ofthe fluidchamber designated 18 and.19.

Securely attached, as at 59, at points adjacent the outer edges of thebefore mentioned flared .portion '58, is a metal ring 60, projectingupwardly and inwardly, and as a matter of fact, downwardly, to provide aThe extractor top 61 is fashioned as at 63 to receive therein aconventional ball bearing 64, said bearing receiving a shaft 65 securelyattached, as at 66, to a locking bar 67. Due to the above construction,it is apparent that the receiving surface for the top 61 of the cenizsI00 1 tion during excessive speed of rotation, which centrifugalextractor is balanced at the bottom and at the top, the driving meanstherefor being through the vertical shaft 36 therebelow. The position ofthe upper hearing or balancing point 64 is determined by the lock bar67, which is shown clearly in Figs. 1 and. 2 of the drawings. This bar67 is hinged as at 68 in brackets 69, which are securely attached, as at70, to the fluid chamber in a manner to engage an inwardly projecting Btractor top or to-be moved to an outward.

lug 74 which is formed either as a part of or attached to the upper sideof the fluid chamber 14.

It is apparent that the latch 71 is held in a tensioned manner withrespect to said lug by means of the spring 75. The slidable bar 72, whenmanually manipulated, either permits locking of the bar 67 or releasethereof, as may be clearly seen in the drawings, it being necessary onlyto apply manual pressure thereto to release the latch. 71. Raising andlowering of the lock bar also raises and lowers the top 61, and when ina locked position, establishes a frictional connection between the top61 and the ring 60 of the centrifugal extractor. It is also apparentthat when the lock bar is lowered, the top portion always assumes thesame position, and it is apparent that the hearing or balancing point isalso in its proper place, with the result that proper balancing of thecentrifugal extractor 21 is always maintained.

In thepresent instance, the aim has been to insure safe operation of thecentrifugal extractor. To this end, a member 76 has been provided tocover the centrifugal extractor top and lock bar when in a locked andoperating position. This cover 76 is perhaps.

most clearly shown in Fig. 2; wherein connecting portions 77 thereof arepivoted to bracket portions 78 on the top of the fluid chamber 14 bymeans of the bolts 79. 'The cover portion 76 istherefore adapted eitherto lie over the lock bar and centrifugal exposition, as shown clearly inFigs. 2 audit, at which time said cover forms a drain board between thecentrifugal extractor and a washing machine tub, not shown except indotted lines, which is ordinarily placed at this pomt for the receptionof the clotheswhich have just been dried in the centrifugal extractor.The edges 80 of the cover 76 are either flared downwardly, substantiallyat right angles, in such manner that'in one instance theyWoperate as acontacting means between the cover and the top of the fluid chamber 14,and in the other instance to confine the flow of fluid when the clothesare removed from the cen-' trifugal extractor and placed in the tubadjacent thereto.

This cover portion 76 also operates as a safety member and to this endone ofthe members 77 has attached thereto in a fixed manner a cam member81. This member 81 is circular in form, but is eccentrically mounted asat 82 on one of the bolts 79, with the result that raising and loweringof the cover operates to give said member a cam like action, causing thebar 83, or rather the head 84 thereof to be depressed or permitted torise, as the case may be, due to movement of the cover. The rod 83 isconnected to the clutch lever 42 by means of a horizontally disposedmember 85 securely attached to the lower end of rod 83 as at 86, saidmember 85 having a substantially vertically disposed rod 87 providingthe connecting link between said bar and the clutch lever 42. A member88, securely attached as at 89 to the centrifugal extractor casing 20,provides a guide means for the rod 87, said rod being pivotallyconnected to the member 85 as at 90 and to the clutch lever 42 as at 91.i

' Due to the above connection between the safety cover and drain board76, it is impossible, in the first instance, to start rotation of theextractor until first locking of the top 60 has been'eflected by lockbar167 and thereafter the cover portion moved to a position directlyover the said top and lock bar portions. When the cover is placed inthis position, the clutch is thrown into engagement with the gear 37,with a resulting rotation of the drive shaft 36, and hence movement ofthe extractor. It is apparent, also, that it is impossible to raise thetop 61 of the centrifugal extractor without first raising the cover 7 6,with the result that when it is desired to stop the movement of thecentrifugal extractor and removeithe' clothes from which the liquidhas'been extracted, it is first necessay to raise the cover,whereupon-the clutch, due to the above described connecting means, isthrown to a release position with respect to the gear 37 and not onlyoperates to disconnect the driving means for the centrifugal extractor,but due to the automatic engagement of the friction' surface 49 on theclutch with .the adjacent friction surface 50 on the gearing casingcover, a braking action is also automatically applied to the drive shaft36, and

therefore to the centrifugal extractor.

' We might say that due to the weight of the centrifugal extractor,especially when the clothes are contained therein, and to the efii-Ycient balancing thereof, there is a tendency,

uponthe unclutching of the driving connection, for the centrifugalextractor to maintain a considerable speedor rotation for some time.This is very undesirable, and there- 7 5 tation. This mechanism is alsoa safety measure, and as a matter of fact, when the coyer 76 has beenraised and moved to a position to operate as a rinse or drain board, the

centrifugal extractor has either entirely stopped or at least the speedthereof has been decreased to one below the danger point when theoperator finally unlatches the lock bar and raises the cover preparatoryto the removal of the clothes from which the water has been extracted.

Perhaps most clearly shown in Fig. 3, is a manually operable valvemechanism to controlthe flow of fluid which has been extracted from theclothes in the centrifugal extractor 21, or as a matter of fact, theflow of the fluid from the fluid chamber 14, the same having accumulatedtherein due to the rotation of the drier. It is desirable at times tohave the extracted fluid returned to the washing ma chine tub, and toaccomplish this purpose, a valve 92 is disposed over an aperture 93 thatopens into the washing machine'tub, it having been previously indicatedthat the fluid chamber 14 was also integrally formed with the washingmachine tube and isa. part thereof. This valve 92 is pivotally attached,as at 94, to a bracket fixedly attached to the fluid chamber, as shownat 95, the means for raising and lowering said valve being provided inthe rod 96 which is pivotally connected as the direction of the arrowshown in Fig. 2

"in a manner to raise or lower the valve 92,-

thereby controlling the flow of the fluid into the washing machine tub.

The coil spring 104 operates to .hold the lever 103 in position. The rod98 not only 0 eratesto raise and lower valve 92, but simultaneouslycontrols the movement of another valve 105 which is disposed over anopening 106 in the side of the fluid chamber.

A conventional hose member 107 is securely attached as at 108 to .thefluid chamber in a 110'securely attached to the fluid chamber 14,

and thereis a connecting member 111 which connects the valve 105 withthe before mentioned valve 92.

at 97, to another rod 98, which is in turn at operable lever 103, whichmay be'moved in Due to the above construction, with manual movement ofthe lever 103 there is a Valve opening movement transmitted to either ofvalves 92'or 105, as the case may be, with the result that one valve isalways open when the other is closed, and therefore notonly permittingthe diversion of the fluid either to the washing machine proper or tosome outside drain member, but also preventing any accumulation of fluidin the fluid chamber 14 during rotation of the drier 21.

Referring to the operation of the machine, the centrifugal extractor ordrier is so associatedwith the washing machine as to form asubstantially unitary structure therewith. It is apparent that thecentrifugal extractor can be rotated only when the lock bar hasbeenlatched with the top in friction engages ment with the centrifugalextractor proper and the cover portion lowered thereover. In view ofthis construction, the centrifugal extractor cannot be rotated when theclothes are placed therein, and as a matter of fact, when the operatordoes place the clothes in the centrifugal extractor for the purpose ofdrying same, the lock bar and top are first lowered to latched positionand the cover 76" moved to a position thereover. With the loweringfofthe cover 76, the driving conriection is effected, with a consequentrotation of the centrifugal extractor, whereupon the tub, rises 'upwardly, passing through the, apertures 62 into the fluid chamber andtherefrom either back to the washing machine tub or through the hose 107to any conventional drain mechanism.

Following the drying operation, the operator, inorder to remove theclothes, must first raise the cover 76 and upon this raising of thecover, through the connectedmechanism with the clutch, first the clutchis disengaged and automatically there is set up a braking action whichoperates immediately to effect a cessation of rotation of thecentrifugal extractor, which has a normal tendency to'm'aintain a highdegree of speed for a considerable time. By the time the cover 7 6hasbeen thrown to its outward or drain position, the centrifugalextractor has stopped and the operator may safely unlatch the lock barand raise the cover, thereafter removing the completely dried garments.

The operation of the mechanism for controlling the flow of the fluidfrom the fluid chamber is thought apparent from the description, but itmight be said that mere man- .ual movement of the lever 103- effectsopening or closing ofeither valve desired, andtherefore diversion ofthe'fluid' to the washing machine tub or some drain member.

This application is a division of the application for Letters Patentfiled by me December 22nd, 1926, Serial No. 156,300 for improvements inwashing machines.

What I claim is v 1. In a device of the character described, acentrifugal extractor, a bearing member for rotatably supporting thelower end of the extractor, a releasable bearing member for rotatablycentering the upper end of said 10 extractor, means for rotating saidextractor,

brake means for said extractor, a protective cover for the upperreleasable bearing member, and means connecting said brake means andcover and operable to prevent movement of the extractor when the coveris moved to its open position.

2. In combination with a centrifugal ex tractor, and means for rotatingsame, a gear housing beneaththe extractor, a shaft extending upwardlyfrom said housing for rotatably supporting the lower end of theextractor, a releasable bearing member for rotatably centering the upperend of said extractor, a brake member carried by the shaft within saidhousing, a verticallyrextending depressible rod connected to said brakemember and having its free upper end disposed adj acent the upper end ofsaid extractor, a movable protective cover for the extractor, and

- cam means carriedby said cover adapted to actuate said rod and brakemember for moving the latter into engagement with the gear housing toprevent rotation of the extractor when said cover is moved to its openposition.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto affixed my hand and seal-this 9thday of June, 1928.

MARK A. DEFIBAUGH.

